"Rowing song, belonging to the repertoire called nahhami, sung during different phases of the work of pearl-fishing.
Sung by two or three soloists, professional singer-poets called nahham, and a chorus of men who are the pearl-divers and their assistants. The soloists come in one after the other, in a very melismatic style. Among the vocal qualities sought are those of high tessitura, supple and "sweet as honey". The chorus intones a drone in the deep bass (called winna, according to Jargy in his disc-notes), some two octaves below the tonic of the soloist's scale. In the second part of the extract, the drone evolves into forceful expirations called hamhama (ibia) which are considered an essential element by the singers.
Each phase of work has its own cycle of songs : for the departure, for anchors aweigh, for rowing, for lifting sail, for diving in search of oysters and then for opening them, as far as the end of the days work and the return.
One may grasp the following words : "Oh, you of good intention, go you towards your fortune". The formula ya mal ("Oh fortune"), which makes the refrain to this poetico-musical form, is an indirect invocation, God alone being master of destiny and fortune."